Yet to get confirmation from Malaysian Govt on Zakir Naik's extradition: MEA
New Delhi, Jul 4 (IBNS): As media reports on the possibility of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik being sent back to India from Malaysia did round on Wednesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said it is yet to receive any confirmation from the Malaysian Government in this regard.
"MEA had made a formal request to Government of Malaysia for his extradition this year in January and has been pursuing it through diplomatic channels," MEA said in a statement.
" We have seen media reports regarding the deportation of Zakir Naik by the Malaysian Government. We are yet to receive official confirmation in this regard from Malaysian authorities," it said.
Earlier, NDTV reported, citing a Malaysian policeman as saying that Naik will be flying out of the country on Wednesday night. “He will be taking a flight to India today I believe,” the police officer is quoted as saying.
Naik is wanted in India for inciting communal violence through his hate speeches. A criminal case was filed against him by the NIA following an order by the Union Home Ministry which also banned his Mumbai-based Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).
Naik came under the scanner of security agencies after it was found that two ISIS terrorists involved in the 2016 Dhaka cafe terror attack were his followers and inspired by his sermons.
Before the MEA came up with the statement, Zakir's Malaysian lawyers denied being served with any extradition notice.
“It is not true. We have not received any extradition notice,” Shaharuddin Ali, who represents Naik, told Free Malaysia Today, adding that a formal request to deport his client must come from the home ministry or the foreign affairs ministry.
He said the notice should not come from the police or the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
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